Scale conveyer structure



Dec. 15, 1942. c5. G. MERCHEN 2,305,134,

SCALE CONVEYER STRUCTURE Filed April 3, 1940. 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. l5, 1942.-

G. G. MERCHEN SCALE CONVEYER STRUCTURE Filed April 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l SCALE coNvEYER STRUCTURE Glen G. Merchen, Spokane, Wash. v Application April 3, 1940, Serial No. 327,613

6 Claims.

, This invention relates to scales for weighing a continuously flowing stream of flour, grain, or

' supported by the platform and the conveyer belt passing over the same, there being also provided gates for the outlet of the hopper and means actuated by vertical movement ofthe platform to open and close the gates and regulate the flow of material from the hopper and thus maintain an even weight of material upon the conveyer;

Another object of the invention is to provide a scale of this type whereinan improved belt is employed as means for moving the material across the scale platform, the belt being of rubber or other suitable material powdered by friction or other suitable means.

Another object. of the invention is to provide scale having automatic control means to maintain the scale in the same weighing position for all amounts of material being-weighed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scale platform having supporting means and a central Weighing pivot point held in suspension gitudinally through the scale on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

means for applying pressure to the beltover one of the rollers which is faced with rubber and thus eliminates any danger of the belt slipping, meansbeing provided for` urging the pressure roller towards the belt and means being also provided for adjusting the tension of a spring -by means of which the pressure roller is urged toward the belt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for urging a loaded conveyer belt across the scale platform without exerting a tension thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved Scrapers for removing material from the under Aflight of the conveyer belt during operation of the scale, the Scrapers being actuated by cams turning with the driving roller about which the belt passes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of platform sections counterbalanced by the scale beam and the weight carried thereby, the platform sections b'eing so associated with each other that they move in unison in response to the weight of the material carried by the conveyer belt.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View on an `enlarged scale, taken vertically through a link connecting one section of the scale platform with another.

Figure 4 `is a side elevation of the improved scale.

Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

line 6-6 of Fig. l. y

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View of the line 1 1 of Fig. 2.

Figure 8 is a similar view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2. E

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional lview taken horizontally through one end portion of the drive roller for the conveyer belt.

This improved scale has a hollow base or housing I formed adjacent one end of its lbottom with an outlet from which a spout 2 extends. A throat 3 extends upwardly from 4adjacent the other end of the housing and in this throat is a hopper 4 having an outlet at its bottom. Flow of flour or other material through the outlet of the hopper is controlled by gates 5 which are slidably mounted ,and provided with racks 6 with mounted shafts 8. These shafts are mounted transversely of the base or housing with their A further object of the invention is to provide a stationary receiving platform of sufficient size to permit the material being weighed to settle bet fore reaching the scale platform and a stationary delivery .platform spaced sufficiently from the scale platform to prevent a run olf of material before it is weighed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ends protruding from one side thereof and carry-v ing beveled gears 9. Within the hopper is anl agitator I0 having a shaft Il extending through and journaled in walls of the hopper. An arm or crank I I. is mounted on the shaft I I and connected to a pitman link I2. This pitman has its other end pivoted to the crank I3 carried by the shaft I4 of the motor I5 which is supported on portion engaged about apulley -|9 carried at one end of a shaft 29 which is. rotatably mounted through the base or housing and at its other end carries a beveled gear 2i meshing with a beveled Pinion 22 carried by a shaft 23. Thel shaft 23 is rotatably mounted longitudinally of the housing at one side thereof and at its other end carries a beveled pinion 24 meshing with a larger beveled gear or pinion 25. This gear is also in mesh with a pinion 2l carried by a shaft 21 which is 'rotated in a direction opposite to that in which the shaft 29 turns and above these shafts is a solenoid-controlled clutch 29 by means of which rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft 29.

When the solenoid is energized by movement of the scale platform, as will hereinafterbe exroller 39. Therefore, the belt will be rmly held against the rubber jacket or sheath of the driving roller and the belt will be driven without slip- Page occurring.

The pressure exerted between the two rollers causes the belt to be urged or pushed across the ,-"scale platform permitting the slack in the belt -base or casing I and having heads 53 at its ends which are firmly secured against side walls of the casing. The cross b`ar 52 and the arms or side bars constitute a supporting frame for a stationary rear plate 54 over which the upper flight of the belt passes.

plained, rotary motion will be imparted lto the shaft 29 either from the shaft 2l or shaft 2l, and the shaft 29 caused to turn in a predetermined direction. The shaft 29 carries a sprocket 39 about which is trained a sprocket chain 3i extending upwardly therefrom and trained about a larger sprocket 32 carried by a shaft 33 which extends longitudinally of the housing and carries beveled pinions 34 meshingwith the beveled gears 9. When the shaft 33 is turned in one direction, the gates 5 will be opened and when the shaft is turned in the opposite direction, the gates will be shifted towardV closed position.

, Opening and closing of gates controls the flow of v threaded end of an adjusting stem 5l which passes material from the hopper and since opening and Y I closing of the gates is responsive to vaction of the solenoid clutch, the material will be fed from the hopper at the proper rate of speed for accurate operation of the scale.

' In order to move the material toward the discharge spout, there has been provided an endless conveyer consisting of a belt 35 formed of rubber and trained over rollers 35 and 31. The roller 35, which constitutes a driving roller for the belt 35, is provided with a rubber sheath or jacket 33 in order that good frictional engagement with the belt will be provided. 39 of theroller 35 are fixed on the shaft 29 so that this roller is rotated with the shaft and, upon referring to Figs.2 and 9 of the drawings,

' it will be seen that the heads 39 are'provided with an eccentric extension 49 constituting cams serving a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. Close contacting engagement between the rubber belt and the rubber sheath of roller 35 must be assured in order that there will be no danger of slippage between the belt and the miler during driving of the belt. To accomplish this, there has been provided a pressure applying roller 4l rotatably mounted over the roller 35 between arms 42 which are pivotally mounted on a rod or shaft 43 and have their outer ends connected by a rod 44 having a stem 45 extending therefromthrough thel front end of the housing I and through a. bracket 45 serving as a, brace or prop for the shelf l5 carrying the motor I5. A spring 41 is conned between the bracket and a nut 49 which is threaded on the stem or shank 45, and it will be readily understood that by adjusting The heads f which it passes.

the nut, tension of the spring may be regulated through an opening 59 formed in the cross bar 52 and carries a collar 59 bearing against the rear face of the cross bar. By turning the stem the shaft 49 will be shifted longitudinally in the forks 59 and the belt properly tightened.

A forward plate 59 which constitutes a stationary support for the forward portion ofthe upper flight of the conveyor belt is mounted on a frame having arms or side bars 5| carried by a cross bar 62 extending transversely in the casing i and having heads 53 at its ends which are firmly secured against side walls lof the casing. This plate is located under the hopper and since the plate is stationary the flour or other material may drop upon the conveyer belt without causing the vertical movement which would disturb the balance of thescale. The plate 59 or stationary platform provides for the fall of the material from the hopper and extends toward the scale sumcient in length to support the material until it is settled before moving onto the scale.

During operation of the scale, a certain amount of the material has a tendency to adhere to the belt and .in order that this material may be removed from the belt and shifted along the bottom of the casing to the discharge spout, there have been provided Scrapers 54 which extend transversely in the base under the conveyer and are pivotally mounted between strips 65 extending longitudinally in the casing at sides thereof. These strips have their front ends formed with upstanding arms or fingers 55 between which t Athe cams 49, and from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 9, it will be readily seen that during-rotation of the drive roller 35, the strips 55 move back and forth along the bottom of the casing and the upper edge of their auxiliary blades 51 will have scraping engagement with the lower flight of the conveyer belt. Therefore, anyof the powdered material adhering to the belt will be scraped olf and asv it drops' ontothe bottom of the casing it will be engaged by lower edges of the Scrapers and progressively shifted along the casing until it reaches the discharge spout into It will thus be-seen that the powdered material will only pass through the scaleonce and will be accurately weighed. In View of the fact that the scrapers have rounded surfaces il' back lof their lower edges, as shown in 1, and the-belt is flexible, the scapers may tilt about their pivots andslide over material on' arms T2 and and the yoke or loop 1I, the lweight of the material :carried by the conveyer belt will depress l.the plates and their supporting trames and .downward pull will be exerted upon be held rmly against'the bottom of the casing as the scrapers move toward the outlet. Therefore, theI material will only pass through the scale once and it will be accurately weighed. v

Front and rear floating scale plates 58 and Bil occupy space between the front and rear stationary plates. These plates are carried by front and rear frames 10 and 1l which have their adjoining ends formed with tongues 12 and 13 which extend through a yoke 14 and carry threaded pivot pins l and 1i, the pin l5 being engaged in a recess Il formed in the inner end of a bearing 18 and the' pin 16 being engaged in a recess l! formed at the lower vend of `the,

yoke. At its iront end, the frame carries at its sides forwardly projecting 'arms or tongues carrying bearings 8l engaged by pivot pins 82 which are threaded through arms or tongues 83 which project rearwardly from the side bars G .I of `the frame carrying the front plate 60. Inter-l mediate its width the frame 10 carries a forwardly extending tongue or arm 8l terminating in upwardly extending pivot B5 spaced suiciently from the plate 60 so that it will not interfere withsensitiveness of the scale. `The frame 'll carrying the rear floating plate 69 is also provided with arms or tongues BB which overhang tongues 8l projecting forwardly from the arms 5| of the frame carrying the rear stationary plate 54 and are formed with bearings 88 'corresponding to the bearings 8l and engaged by the pivot pins 89 extending upwardly from the tongues 81. The rear bar 90 of the frame 'Il is curved rearwardly 4under the plate 54 and provided with an upstanding pivot point Sl. Pivot points and 9| are spaced from the plates 54 and 60 suflicient distance tov-prevent interference of the ,scale Abut suiliciently close to prevent the scale platforms f `from becoming dislodged from the four supporting pivots. It should be noted that the conve'yer belt is formed with side iianges 92 which overlap lower side edges of the side boards 93 extending from the deiiector plate 84 of the hopper. These f yside vstrips, or boards 93 serve to prevent the material from spilling from side edges vof the belt as it is moved through the casing I from the hopper and dumped into the discharge spout.

Scale arms 95 which are braced by a cross bar f 95., extend from opposite sides of the inner end of the frame ll. These arms are curved longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 2, and terminate `in outstanding pintles $6 pivotally mounted through vbearing blocks Sl at lower ends of rods 98 extending downwardly from ends of a cross bar or yoke 99.- The yoke or cross bar 99 ispivot'ally .suspended from the inner end of a scale beam |00 by a hanger IM, and upon referring to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be seen that the scale beam extends longitudinally of the casing l in a vertical spaced relation thereto and adjacent its kinner end carries pivot bars |02 which project from opposite sides of the block 103 of the scale beam and are pivotally engaged with the bearing brackets |04 extending rearwardly from the hopper at opposite sides thereof. In view of the fact that the iloating plates BB and 69 are carried by frames l0 and 1I which are pivotally mounted at their outer ends and inter-connected by the the rods 9B and `the cross arm or bar 93 and' the :scale beam lwill be rocked about its pivots and .if the material is being delivered at the proper rate of speed to 'balance the scale beam, a predetermined quantity `tif-material will be delivered to the discharge spout within a predetermined time. "The `quantity of material thus passed through the machine recorded yon an automatic recording machine not shown. Sincl vertical movement of the .scale beam laetuates the .switch'of the solenoid clutch .28 and movement of the scale beam is responsiveto' movements `'of the .oating plates, Athe gates 5 will be .opened or ,closed if Ythe proper quantity of material is not being delivered from the hopper onto the conveyer belt. The fact that the .material drops upon the eonveyer over the forward :stationary plate instead of upon a `ioating plate` prevents undesired vibrations which would be liable to transmit movement to the scale beam `and prevent accurate operation of the weighing machine. The weights and |06 will, of course, be adjusted to set the scale for causing a predetermined weight of material to be supported by 'the' iloating plates. A level 101 is mounted over the block of the scale beam and, in order that the machine may be supported upon a base in a level position, there have been provided front and .rear feet |08 and |09, the front foot being located midway the width of the casing and permitting universal tilting movement and the rear feet being threaded through ears llll projecting from opposite `sides of the bottom of the `casing and adjustable through'the same so that the casing may be shifted vertically or tilted transversely until the bubble of the level is properly centered` Having thus described the invention, what is `claimed is:

l. .Ina weighing apparatus, a casing having an :inlet adjacent its front end land an outlet adjacent its rear end, a scale beam pivotally mounted over ,said casing, front and rear stationary platforms .in :said casing, front and rear `weighing platforms between the `stationary platforms pivoted to the stationary platforms and to each other, the rear weighing platform .having forwardly extending `arms at its sides, a yoke suspended from .said scale beam and extending transversely kover the casing; links extending vertically through side portions of said casing with `their upper ends carried by said yoke and their lower ends provided with bearings pivotally support'ingthe arms `of vthe rear weighing platform, and :a belt conveyor for moving material through the casing 4between the inlet and the outlet having :its `.upper .flight .resting on lthe platforms.

.2. In a weighing apparatus, a `casing having an 'inlet adjacent its front end and rear outlet, a. Xscale beam over .said casing pivotally mounted adjacent one end, front and rear weighing platforms in said casing, supporting `frames for said platforms pivotally mounted and at their adjacent ends provided with-vertically spaced, over- `lapping tongues, pivot pins carried by said tongues, a band extending about said tongues and having `sockets receiving ends of said pins, one `socket being .adjustable through. the band, :arms extending forwardly from opposite sides of the rear frame, a yoke suspended from said scale 'beam ltransversely over said casing and having depending rods at its ends slidably enter-- ing the casing, bearings at the lower ends of said rods pivotally supporting the front ends of the arms of the'rear frame, and a conveyer in said casing extending longitudinally Vtherein between the inlet and the outlet including an endless belt having its upper flight resting on the scale platforms.

3. In a weighing apparatus, a casing having lan inlet adjacent its front end and a rear outlet, a scale beam over said casing pivotally mounted adjacent one end, a weighing platform in said casing, a supporting frame for said platform pivotally mounted and adapted to have pivotal movement when the weighing platform is depressed by weight of material thereon, a yoke suspended from the scale beam and having depending rods extending into the casing and connected with the frame to yieldably supporttthe frame, a conveyer extending longitudinally in said casing between the inlet and outlet and including an endless conveyer belt having its upper flight resting on said platform, rollers for said belt, one roller constituting a drive roller and having a drive shaft, and scraper means actuated from said drivrehshaft for scraping matefdl rial from the lower flight o'fh'idbeltnridmov-r ing the same along the bottom of the casing into the outlet.

4. In a Weighing apparatus, a casing having an upper inlet at its front end and a lower outlet at its rear end, a` scale beam over said casing pivotally mounted adjacent one end, front and rear stationary platforms in said casing having supporting frames rigidly mounted in the casing under the inlet and adjacent the outlet, front and rear Weighing platforms between the stationary platforms having frames provided with side bars pivotally supported upon frames of the stationary platforms, extensions at ends of the frames of the weighing platforms extending under adjacent ends of the stationary platforms and pivotally engaging the same, means pivotally connecting adjoining end portions of the frames of the weighing platform frames, meansA of said scale beam, and a conveyer extending longitudinally in said casing between the inlet and outlet including an endless belt having its upper flight resting on the platforms.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having an inlet at its front end and an outlet at its rear end, a platform in said casing between the inlet and the outlet, a conveyer including an endless belt having its upper flight resting on said platform and rollers supporting the belt, one roller being a driving roller carried by a drive shaft having end portions projecting from the roller,and means for scraping material from the lower flight of said belt comprising side boards resting on the bottom of said casing at opposite sides of the conveyor, Scrapers pivotally mounted between said side boards with their upper edges engaging the belt and their .lower edges resting'on the bottom of the casing, `fingers extending upwardly from the front ends of said side boards, and cams carried by the pro= jecting end portions of said drive shaft between said fingers for acting on the ngers to impart the reciprocating motion to the side boards during rotation of the drive shaft.

6. In an apparatus of the character described,

v-a--casing having an inlet and an outlet spaced therefrom, a conveyer in said casing extending between the inlet and the outlet and including an endless belt and rollers for said belt, a drive shaft carrying one roller, cams carried by said drive shaft, side boards extending longitudinally of said conveyer at sides thereof and having upstanding arms engaging said cams to cause longitudinal shifting of the side boards during rotation of the cams, scrapers pivotally mounted between said side boards and extending transversely of the casing under the conveyer, said Scrapers having upstanding blades engaging the under face of the lower flight of said conveyer and depending portions yieldably holding the blades upright and resting on the bottom of the casing, a platform in said casing supporting a portion ofthe upper flight of said conveyer belt,

and means for rotating said drive shaft.

GLEN G. MERCHEN. 

